OTTAWA – The federal government could create 18,000 jobs if it removed existing tax incentives for oil and gas companies, and invested the money instead in industries that reduce pollution, says a new report to be released Thursday by an alliance of labour and environmental groups.

OTTAWA-The federal and Alberta government's are declining to explain recent claims from former provincial environment minister Rob Renner that appeared to overstate measures and policies to protect the environment from oilsands development.